Tomster2
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Remote reboot keeps looking to USB Drive
Working with a Windows 7 Pro machine. The user leaves 2-3 USB hard drives (not simple USB flash drives) connected to the machine.
Our problem is that when working remote he uses the VPN and RDP to connect to the machine. Occasionally, the machine hangs and nothing but a hard reboot will return it to normal operation... and no one else is on the premises.
We worked around that with a nice little product called iBoot that will let us kill power to the PC, and then restore it... this device combined with the BIOS set to boot when power is restored, the machine can now be given a hard reboot remotely.
Now we get to the problem. The BIOS is also set to look at the local Hard disk as the first choice for bootup. Unfortunately, it is looking at the attached USB hard drives first and reporting "no bootable partition in the table".
This is not surprising because the USB drive does not have a bootable partition... but why is the machine looking to the USB drive for a boot partition when the BIOS is set to look at the local hard drive.
At that point the machine won't boot unless the USB drives are removed, and a second reboot initiated. This is a problem as it is tough to pull out a USB cable via RDP :-(
Anyone else ever see a problem like this? Suggestions welcome.
Our problem is that when working remote he uses the VPN and RDP to connect to the machine. Occasionally, the machine hangs and nothing but a hard reboot will return it to normal operation... and no one else is on the premises.
We worked around that with a nice little product called iBoot that will let us kill power to the PC, and then restore it... this device combined with the BIOS set to boot when power is restored, the machine can now be given a hard reboot remotely.
Now we get to the problem. The BIOS is also set to look at the local Hard disk as the first choice for bootup. Unfortunately, it is looking at the attached USB hard drives first and reporting "no bootable partition in the table".
This is not surprising because the USB drive does not have a bootable partition... but why is the machine looking to the USB drive for a boot partition when the BIOS is set to look at the local hard drive.
At that point the machine won't boot unless the USB drives are removed, and a second reboot initiated. This is a problem as it is tough to pull out a USB cable via RDP :-(
Anyone else ever see a problem like this? Suggestions welcome.
ASKER
Additional info. The PC is an HP Pavillion P6000.
ASKER
phungus69,
In a perfect world that would be the way to go. But the user is sometimes gone from his solo office a month at a time. Things happen... that is why we need to cover all the basis of situations we may encounter while he is gone.
In a perfect world that would be the way to go. But the user is sometimes gone from his solo office a month at a time. Things happen... that is why we need to cover all the basis of situations we may encounter while he is gone.
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Try disabling legacy USB support in the bios
Does not always work but sometimes does the job
Does not always work but sometimes does the job
ASKER
No Bios update available. We went into the BIOS and looked at "HDD Group". This shows the internal drive as #1 in the boot order, with the USB drives listed after it.
He actually has a USB Hub connected to the PC and as many as 4 USB drives connected to the hub. I know... not the best arrangement, but it is what it is.
He actually has a USB Hub connected to the PC and as many as 4 USB drives connected to the hub. I know... not the best arrangement, but it is what it is.
did you try the above - disable legacy usb in bios ?
If not a BIOS (boot sequence) edit, check BCD (boot configuration Data) editing for that USB drive.
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc721886%28v=ws.10%29.aspx
I believe you can edit this in MSCONFIG.
Go to START>>and on the run line type>>msconfig>>press enter, and select the "boot tab" to remove the option to boot to USB.
I still think this is a BIOS boot sequence edit.
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc721886%28v=ws.10%29.aspx
I believe you can edit this in MSCONFIG.
Go to START>>and on the run line type>>msconfig>>press enter, and select the "boot tab" to remove the option to boot to USB.
I still think this is a BIOS boot sequence edit.
ASKER
Will check the msconfig when I have access to the machine.
Thanks.
As far as the USB legacy support, would disabling that affect recognition of USB drives going forward?
Thanks.
As far as the USB legacy support, would disabling that affect recognition of USB drives going forward?
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Glad you got it fixed!
ASKER
My comments outlines the action that corrected the problem.
You could also try updating your BIOS, as maybe something isn't working correctly there.